THE 6 NATIONS 2021 LIVE ON ITV A star-studded line-up of on-screen talent and key matches feature in ITV’s live coverage of the Guinness 6 Nations Championship 2021, which starts with a double-header including the Calcutta Cup between England and Scotland at Twickenham. The channel will show eight matches throughout the six weeks of the tournament, including clashes like England v France on the penultimate weekend, Ireland v France, England v Italy, Italy v Wales and Ireland v England on the final weekend. This year's tournament marks the latest in a six-year deal between ITV and the BBC that sees 6 Nations matches shared between both broadcasters on television and online Leading ITV’s team will be presenters Mark Pougatch and Jill Douglas, joined by Jonny Wilkinson and Lawrence Dallaglio, members of England’s victorious Rugby World Cup 2003 team, along with their coach Sir Clive Woodward, former Ireland captain Brian O’Driscoll who is joined this year by fellow former Irish skipper Rory Best, former Wales captain Gareth Thomas, former Scotland and Lions coach Sir Ian McGeechan, England Women World Cup winner Maggie Alphonsi, former England international Ugo Monye, Welsh international Jamie Roberts and former Scotland international Jim Hamilton. Current Italy star Michele Campagnaro and French legend Serge Betsen will also feature for the first time. Martin Bayfield will combine presenting duties with his role as reporter, alongside reporter Gabriel Clarke. Joining them with a wealth of experience in the commentary box will be Nick Mullins, Miles Harrison and Martin Gillingham, plus co-commentators Shane Williams, Gordon D’Arcy, Geordan Murphy, Ben Kay, Scott Hastings, David Flatman and Danielle Waterman. Returning this year is the ITV 6 Nations podcast, hosted by David Flatman and Tom Shanklin. There will be eight episodes, including a preview of the tournament, in which Flats and Shanks will discuss all the main talking points in their own humorous and engaging style. In the lead-up to the tournament Flats and Shanks will also guide us through the 10 best Six Nations matches on ITV Hub, providing humorous commentary and insight into key moves and scores. Every match will be simulcast live on the ITV Hub, on web and app, for viewers to watch online, and our responsively designed 6 Nations site – itv.com/six-nations – will help bring the tournament to life with all the latest news and highlights of all games. ITV Hub's five-minute round-up of the action The Breakdown returns for every match, with punditry, match highlights and insight. And the ITV Rugby Twitter account will feature in-match clips during each of the channel’s broadcasts. ITV’s portfolio of world-class sports rights for 2021 also includes exclusive live terrestrial coverage of racing, the Tour de France, the French Open, live coverage of the Euro 2021 championship with exclusive coverage of England’s friendlies and World Cup 2022 qualifiers, and shared rights to live coverage of the FA Cup from the 2021-2022 season. This is an ITV Sport production for ITV Press enquiries – [email protected] Picture enquiries – [email protected] ITV 6 NATIONS SCHEDULE • Sat 6 Feb - Italy v France, ko 14.15, transmission from 13.30-1610 • Sat 6 Feb - England v Scotland, ko 16.45, transmission from 1615-1900 • Sat 13 Feb - England v Italy, ko 14.15, transmission from 1330-1630 • Sun 14 Feb - Ireland v France, ko 15.00, transmission from 1415-1730 • Sat 27 Feb - Italy v Ireland, ko 14.15, transmission from 1330-1630 • Sat 13 Mar - Italy v Wales, ko 14.15, transmission from 1330-1610 • Sat 13 Mar - England v France, ko 16.45, transmission from 1615-1900 • Sat 20 Mar - Ireland v England, ko 16.45, transmission from 1600-1900 PRESS PACK Q&As MAGGIE ALPHONSI Who do you think will win the Six Nations and why? I think it will be between England or France. Both are coming off the back of a good Autumn Nations Cup tournament. If I were to choose, England would be my preference just because they have developed a winning mentality. Eddie Jones also has the depth and a squad full of versatile players who are capable of covering all positions, so any injuries or absences can easily be filled. The French will push them close though as they have an exciting young team full of confidence. France also have players in form but they do have some key injury concerns which could impact their chances. Which players are you looking forward to watching this time? If they are all given a chance I’ll be looking forward to seeing Cameron Woki. An injury replacement for Gregory Alldritt and deserves his spot. He was outstanding in the autumn for France and is sure to repeat his efforts again during the Championship. I am also keen to see the Bristol trio of Ben Earl, Max Malins and Harry Randall. All have been central to Bristol’s success. Paolo Odogwu is another player who has shone this season domestically and if given a shot could make an impact. Which matches are you particularly looking forward to, and why? I’m looking forward to Wales v England because last year in the Championship this game went right down to the wire. I’m also looking forward to England v France. The last time these two met was in the final of the Autumn Nations Cup and that was a thrilling match filled with some controversy. Do you think the delayed end to the tournament last year will have any influence on how teams approach this tournament? Yes. I don’t expect to see too many changes in team selections. I expect coaches to want to maintain consistency and build stability rather than try out new players/combinations. A fast start will be crucial just in case the Championship has to stop again or cease completion. Coaches will want to have built a good lead and make sure they’ve put their team in the best possible position. What impact do you think playing without fans in the stadia has on the players? Now players have experienced over the last few months what it’s like to play without fans, I would say players are now used to it. They’ve learned to create their own atmosphere. SHANE WILLIAMS Who do you think will win the Six Nations and why? France. I felt they were very unlucky not to win the 2020 championship. Also they have improved the most out of the 6 teams and seem to have structure in the way they played under Galthié and Edwards. Combine that with some very classy individuals they will be a force. Which players are you looking forward to watching this time? Dupont is a real class act that oozes X factor but is also a leader. Jonny Williams seems to have earned his place in the centre for Wales and consistently played better for club and country than anyone. I’m hoping he has a big tournament. Which matches are you particularly looking forward to, and why? England v Wales is always the talking point for us Welsh and I always look forward to that, but Scotland v Wales for me is a big game. This is a game that Wales will want retribution for after being bullied at Parc Y Scarlets last year. That really stung the players and management team! Do you think the delayed end to the tournament last year will have an influence on how teams approach this tournament? It does change the dynamics slightly as the players went from playing very little rugby for a large period of early 2020 to playing a lot of rugby at the latter end of the year because of Covid, so the mindset will be different as it also feels like we’ve only just finished the last tournament however the players will be prepared and if anything, the disappointment of defeat is still fresh for most and will only inspire them. What impact do you think playing without fans in the stadia has on the players? It’s very difficult to say this as this has never happened to me but what I will say is the one of my favourite parts of playing was the crowd! The expectation and excitement when things weren’t going your way or the euphoria of winning and being successful. It massively inspired me and I do feel it affects performance massively! I feel for the players but also for the supporters! This is the greatest rugby tournament in the world for our fans. Especially whilst watching from the stadiums. GORDON D'ARCY Who do you think will win the Six Nations and why? This is a really interesting Six Nations, there is about to be some serious movement in the historic pecking order of the last decade. Ireland and Wales have won six of the 10 championships but their shine has been dulled since RWC '19. Scotland seem to be pulling a half decent team together, and if they could only match their confident chat in the weeks leading up to matches with some consistent performances they might buck their recent trend of battling Italy for the wooden spoon. Rugby is still a game that rewards the 'Big and the Bold', so in a lot of ways it is a straight shootout between England and France. England hosting France in a potentially empty Twickenham, France's ill-discipline seemingly buried with Vahaamahina's red card in the Oita Bank Dome, Japan, and England's heavies playing in the championship, maybe the stars have aligned for France.